The packaging industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by recyclability, automation, and increasing the shelf life of the product, and the growing importance of technologies, such as biodegradable packaging, Internet of Things, and active packaging. In the last three years alone, there have been over 427,000 patents filed and granted in the packaging industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in packaging: antibacterial waterproof packaging.

However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity. 

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Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have. 

30+ innovations will shape the packaging industry

According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the packaging industry using innovation intensity models built on over 77,000 patents, there are 30+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Within the emerging innovation stage, cellulose fiber 3D printing, biodegradable packaging films, and multilayer barrier films with energy recovery are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. RFID packaging, anti-counterfeiting bottle caps, and clamshell-type packaging are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are resealable medication vials and synthetic resin containers, which are now well established in the industry. 

Innovation S-curve for the packaging industry

Antibacterial waterproof packaging paper is a key innovation area in packaging 

The presence of antibacterial waterproof layers and a paper layer helps the antimicrobial waterproof packaging to ensure increased product protection against harmful microbes. 

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 190+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established packaging companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of antibacterial waterproof packaging paper. 

Key players in antibacterial waterproof packaging paper – a disruptive innovation in the packaging industry   

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.

Patent volumes related to antibacterial waterproof packaging paper

Company Total patents (2010 - 2022) Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies
Stora Enso 271 Unlock Company Profile
Kemira 107 Unlock Company Profile
Westrock 69 Unlock Company Profile
Philip Morris International 60 Unlock Company Profile
Kuraray 57 Unlock Company Profile
International Paper 54 Unlock Company Profile
BASF 51 Unlock Company Profile
Nippon Paper Industries 49 Unlock Company Profile
Billerud 45 Unlock Company Profile
Omya International 40 Unlock Company Profile
Dow 40 Unlock Company Profile
Daikin Industries 40 Unlock Company Profile
delfortgroup 35 Unlock Company Profile
Wilh. Werhahn 35 Unlock Company Profile
Tetra Laval International 32 Unlock Company Profile
AGC 30 Unlock Company Profile
DIC 28 Unlock Company Profile
Henkel 26 Unlock Company Profile
Mondi 23 Unlock Company Profile
China Tobacco International HK 21 Unlock Company Profile
MP Global Products 20 Unlock Company Profile
FiberLean Technologies 19 Unlock Company Profile
Yagna 19 Unlock Company Profile
Oji 17 Unlock Company Profile
Changde Jinde New Material Technology 17 Unlock Company Profile
Mativ 17 Unlock Company Profile
Novo Nordisk Foundation 15 Unlock Company Profile
Pratt Industries 15 Unlock Company Profile
Hankuk Paper Manufacturing 14 Unlock Company Profile
Repaper 13 Unlock Company Profile
China FAW Group 13 Unlock Company Profile
Huhtamaki 13 Unlock Company Profile
Les Laboratoires Servier 12 Unlock Company Profile
Solenis Technologies Cayman 12 Unlock Company Profile
China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial 12 Unlock Company Profile
Toppan 12 Unlock Company Profile
Humanitarian Scientific 12 Unlock Company Profile
Hansol 12 Unlock Company Profile
Anhui Shuntong Packaging Material 11 Unlock Company Profile
Wendel 10 Unlock Company Profile
Japan Tobacco 10 Unlock Company Profile
Klabin 10 Unlock Company Profile
Rhodia Acetow 10 Unlock Company Profile
Ecolab 9 Unlock Company Profile
Smurfit Kappa Group 9 Unlock Company Profile
YFY 9 Unlock Company Profile
Anheuser-Busch InBev 9 Unlock Company Profile
Exxon Mobil 8 Unlock Company Profile
Dow Silicones 8 Unlock Company Profile
DuPont de Nemours 8 Unlock Company Profile

Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics

Stora Enso is the leading patent filer in antibacterial waterproof packaging paper. Some other key patent filers in the space include Kemira, Westrock, Philip Morris International, and Kuraray.  

In terms of application diversity, Pratt Industries leads the pack, while MP Global Products and Huhtamaki stand in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, MP Global Products holds the top position, followed by Philip Morris International and Yagna, respectively. 

Scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health developed a waterproof, biodegradable, and antibacterial food packaging that is claimed to kill harmful microbes thereby extending the shelf life of food products. 

With consumers looking for greater product safety and hygiene, antibacterial waterproof packaging paper is expected to gain popularity and will potentially become an important product in the packaging industry. 

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the packaging industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Packaging.

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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.